10-21-19
On 10-19-19 Deputies with the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a shooting incident that resulted in the death of Rickey Leonard Harris (61 YOA). At approximately 2:48 pm, deputies arrived at the residence located at 278 Nursery Road, Easley, South Carolina, in response to a domestic disturbance.
Sheriff Rick Clark requested assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to conduct the investigation into the circumstances of the shooting. The Office of Professional Standards, which is the internal affairs unit of the sheriff’s office, was directed by Sheriff Clark to investigate the incident independent of the criminal investigation that is being conducted by SLED. Two deputies were on scene at the time of the shooting; both of which have been placed on paid administrative leave, per sheriff’s office policy, pending the outcome of the internal review into the incident involving their use of force.
Details from the internal review thus far have confirmed that Mr. Harris exited his residence onto the front porch with a weapon that he pointed at deputies. One shot was fired by a deputy on scene that struck Mr. Harris in the chest. He died at the scene.
No one else was injured during the incident.
The Sheriff’s Office had one other call for service at this residence in March of 2016 that was related to a simple assault involving a dispute over a canine. Both parties to the incident at that time declined to cooperate with law enforcement and the case was closed.
No additional information will be released at this time.
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